Could you just please let me know if senior staff and the team of holiday creators have read this thread and have taken note of all our views?  Very important points have been made and it speaks volumes that there is a broad consensus in what we have all said.  A further point, we appreciate that costs can rise; however it is hard for me to accept that they have risen so much, especially when your competitors haven't risen their prices by nearly as much.  I am sure that most people would agree that we want to feel that we are getting value for money and I certainly wouldn't want these holidays to be subject to costcutting, where the quality of the holiday experience suffers as a result.  As previously mentioned, I won't use a certain travel company because they use budget hotels and have half and full days free sprinkled throughout their itineraries.

Best wishes,

Bob

Yes, I can confirm that all feedback in this thread has been passed to our senior managers so they are aware. We value and listen to all customer feedback, and it will all be taken into consideration going forward.

Many thanks,

Vickie

All the best,

Bob

Following on I just wish someone would post a honest review of this tour, so I can try and understand why these changes have been made. As I still find it so strange that changes have been made so quickly to this tour.

I started useing JY in 2006,and when I started travelling the world I think we really did get such great value for money so much more was included there was very few optional extras that we had to budget for. I know times change but it seems now the tours are expensive to start with, then we have to budget for so much more for all the add ons, and many more meals etc. So then the tour ends up costing a huge amount. Not just the advertised price.

It would be nice if senior management would comment once in a while to address our concerns.

Cindy

Do think this is very important.  I agree with what has been said by others above.  Its not a good feeling when the included meal at the hotel is poor and all the other people around you seem to have so much better meals.  Or, the issues that sometimes (not always) arise when there is no included meal and you have to sort something out yourself - not all TMs are helpful.  Or the occasionally really awful included meals that JY have let their local agents arrange - presumably to fit a budget.

This is my first year of full retirement and because of not being able to take much in the way of holidays when working, I'm making up for it.  I have 4 more holidays booked for the rest of this year and non of them are with JY.  A reflection of everyone's comments above.

Now next year, starting to book stuff up.  Have a TS tour booked, will book a JY ski trip when the dates out.  But for the other 4/5 holidays I book, looks unlikely to be with JY.  As others have said, I have in the last couple of years found 3/4 other companies who provide better value for money.

Best wishes.

Katy

Wishing you a long, happy and travel-filled retirement!

Looking forward to seeing you in November (on an non-JY trip!!).

All the best,

Bob

Hi Katy,

Wishing you a long, happy and travel-filled retirement!

Looking forward to seeing you in November (on an non-JY trip!!).

All the best,

Bob

thanks Bob,

think the Nov trip will be great.  Have just booked another holiday for this year - a learn to swim week.  So that's five before the end of the year (including Sri Lanka next week).

See you November.

Best

Katy

Best of luck with the swimming, I could never master it I'm afraid!  Enjoy Sri Lanka, another destination on my wish list so I'm looking forward to hearing all about it in November.

All the best,

Bob

Following on from the previous comments, I noticed that TS has also apparently had feedback from clients about wanting more free time and to be able to chose restaurants themselves more frequently.  I am wondering if in fact it is more the TS clientele who are backing the idea than the JY travellers.  

Having travelled a lot with my husband in the past, we would not have wanted to "enjoy" lots of meals with people we didnt know during our holidays.  We both had service oriented jobs and our holidays were for enjoying our own company. So quite understandable that TS clients might react like that.

As now on my own, and a JY typical client who wants to cultivate the company of others with similar interests, I am much more inclined to want company over meals and less free time to spend wandering about on my own.

Just a thought you might like to consider.

Stella

Thank you for your feedback, I'll make sure it's passed on.

The feedback we have received has been from Just You customers.

Many thanks,

Vickie

I suspect that the reality is that customers have said they would prefer to make their own plans for dinner than have a poor included meal, which sadly has often been the case on tours that I have been on.  I cannot for the life of me understand why single travellers would say they would prefer less included meals otherwise.

All the best,

Bob

JY really don't get it.  Having been on many holidays with JY (and others) in the last few years, solo travellers are really not looking for the headache of trying to sort out their meals in unfamiliar destinations.  Some solo travellers are very nervous anyway and this is very stressful for them.  (We do get it, that in the US the evening meals usually aren't included - and there are plenty of diners around.)  But, it really can be a complete pain and is totally unnecessary.

Katy

If a tour is more 1 hotel based with trips out then I would expect a decent meal to be provided in the evening,

But some hotels have been lacking in what they provide, sometimes I think it’s being a vegetarian but more often than not it’s just poor food.

I have also had some dire welcome / leaving meals ....if it’s a leaving meal more often than not a group of us will go off rather than risk it.

Cindy

To add insult to injury I have not received one of the holiday questionnaires for my last FOUR JY tours, despite various staff telling me each time there had been a problem with their system and that one was being sent out to me.  It is now over a month since I came back from the Azores, no questionnaire, no voucher (which I won't be able to use anyhow, but that's beside the point).  The only thing I've received recently is a mailing with the "Experience the World" mini brochure (beautifully presented, but it doesn't contain any new tours - so what's the point?!) and some other mailings.  Nothing new to read in any of them, so into the recycling bin they went.  I despair of making any points to JY at this stage - when we push the point, we are told all feedback is welcome and passed on.  But it never seems to be acted upon - or do JY only listen to the feedback that tallies with current policy?  Various tour managers have told me that the "office" is very slow to listen to them, which is crazy as they are the real experts, leading the tours on the ground.  This all makes me so mad!!!

All the best,

Bob

One of the main reasons for choosing to holiday with Just You is because, as a single traveller, I enjoy the opportunity to socialise with others both during the day and also over meals. I would not want to be in a position where I am having to try and find somewhere myself to eat unless it was of my own choice to do so and would therefore be at my own additional expense.

i have seen some of the comments where the rep has not joined the group for meals and feel that this is also bad practise. If there is a problem with the food then are they not the people on the ground that should be speaking to the hotel or company at the time to seek resolution or am I asking to much of them?

I must admit that the more I see and hear I do feel that Just You has “lost the plot” and removed many of the things that made it stand out from its single holiday competitors which is a real shame. I understand that it is a business which needs to make a profit but with other well known companies introducing solo holidays that give more for less (including special offers which JY never seem to do) I feel that, if they are going to retain their position they need to retain and improve aspects of the holiday rather than remove them.

I am fortunate in that I am able to take several holidays a year but in order to do so, as others have advised, I too travel with companies that give me the best value for money and the main factor when making my choices are the included excursions and meals.

I really hope that JY do take on board all feedback received and take into account the needs of the many and not just the few. Where JY are quoting customer feedback as being the catalyst for removing meals from certain tours I would be interested to hear the % of people on those tours that provided feedback to say they didn’t want the meals included. Is it possible to provide this?

Janet

I posted to this thread recently (Friday or Saturday) but it has not appeared yet. Did you receive it and are waiting for info from elsewhere before posting?

Janet

Apologies, I'm not sure but there's not a post showing from you in my list to approve.

Could you please re-post and I will approve?

Thanks,

Vickie